11th Bombardment Squadron
| 11th Bomb Squadron | |
|---|---|
Boeing B-52H-175-BW Stratofortress 61-0036, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
|
|
| Active | 26 June 1917 - 31 July 1927 1 June 1928 - 2 November 1945 1 September 1954 - 18 June 1958 1 October 1982 - 31 May 1991 1 July 1994 - present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Part of | Air Force Global Strike Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. |
| Nickname(s) | Jiggs Squadron or Bewilderment Group |
| Colors | Gold and Black |
| Mascot(s) | Mr. Jiggs |
| Tail Code | "LA" |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations |
|
| Insignia | |
| 11th Bomb Squadron emblem |  |
_Streamer.jpg){kind=small}
The 11th Bomb Squadron (11 BS) is a unit of the United States Air Force, 2d Operations Group, 2d Bomb Wing located at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The 11th is equipped with the B-52H Stratofortress.
The 11 BS is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the 11th Aero Squadron on 26 June 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a Day Bombardment squadron. It took part in the St. Mihiel offensive and Meuse-Argonne offensive.
During World War II the unit served in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy and later B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron as part of Fifth Air Force. During the Cold War it was both a tactical MGM-1 Matador and BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile squadron as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe.
Exceptional warriors ready now to provide responsive, flexible and accurate bomber combat power and expeditionary combat support to warfighting commanders… anytime… anywhere.
The 11th saw combat as a day bombardment unit with First Army, 14 September 1918, which was a bloody baptism of fire. But an attempted raid the following day practically devastated the fledgling squadron. "Out of a formation of six planes which crossed the lines," remembered surviving veteran Paul S. Green, "only one succeeded in staggering back in a riddled condition." Henceforward, the 11th Squadron, earlier and officially designated the "Jiggs Squadron" was unkindly referred to throughout the U.S. Air Service as the "Bewilderment Group." Jiggs was a cartoon character invented five years before by an 11th Squadron officer, George McManus, whose comic strip, "Bringing Up Father," was the first of its kind to attract a worldwide readership. The Bewilderment Group's emblem featured the famous Jiggs with a bomb tucked under his arm. The 11th flew from then to the 5 November 1918 and went on to fly Mexican border patrol from c. August–November 1919. It participated in demonstrations of effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships on 5 September 1923.
...
Wikipedia